People Power defeats EirGrid Power – Harkin

The power which communities working together could bring to bear on a threat to their well being was very effectively demonstrated in the decision of EirGrid to cancel the GridLink project.

This was the reaction of Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she praised the efforts of the many groups which had come together at community level to express opposition to what was an unnecessary threat to their well being.

“The anti-pylon groups could see at an early stage that what was being foisted on them did not meet any criteria of necessity, and could not be financially justified having regard to future demand for electricity in the areas concerned or in the country as a whole”, she said. If this pressure highlighting health and other issues had not been so effectively exercised there would have been no Expert Panel established and no curb on an unnecessary development and waste of public funds, she said.

This was people power expressed at its best in the interest of community and of the country as a whole, Independent MEP Marian Harkin concluded.